The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-12
EARLY INDIAN HISTORY.
The Tribes That Formerly Occupied Indians
The Settlement at Wea Town.


During the decade previous to 1870 all the
country now included within the present State
Of Indiana was occupied by the Miami confed-
eracy of Indian tribes, or league of more than
dozen branches and offshoots of the Algon-
quins, by which general name all the tribes
occupying the territory from the Atlantic ocean
on the Mast to the Mississippi river on the West:
and with the exception of the territory occupied
by the Six Nations, or Iroquois, in Pennsy lvania
and New York, it extended north and south
from the st. Lawrence river and the great lakes
to the land of the Cherokees and Tuscaroras,
in what is now the States of Tennessee and
North Carolina The most notable of the tribes
forming the Miami confederation were the
Weas, Twightwees Wildcats, Shockeys, Wyan-
dottes and Piankeshaws The exact date Of the
formation OF this confederation is not known,
but the object OF it was to defend themselves
from the invasions of the Five Nations The
dwelling places of the tribes Of this confederacy
were along the Wabash river and its tributaries,
and scattered along the Great Miami.
Lake Michigan and the St. Joseph
river. They were in manner subjugated
by the Iro1uois and their numbers greatly deci-
mated by constant warfare, when in 1920 La
Sale explored the Mississippi, and France. urged
forward by Father Marquette, proceeded to bind
its scattered colonies together by chain of for
tifcations extending from Quebec on the north
west border, to New Orleans on the southwest.
In those days the Indian town Of Ouiatenon on
the Wabash, the villages of the Piankeshaws on
the same river at VinceDnes, and of the Mamls
on the st. Joseph were the principal fur-trading
stations in Indiana. These points drew the
French traders to them. and in 1856 had large
mixed populations of French and Indians. The
town of Ouiatenon. or Wea Town, took it's name
from the tribe in the majority and all the minor
tribes acquiesced in the decision of the stronger
and in course of time all the Indians occupying
central Indiana were known as Weas, though
the different tribes managed among themselves
to hold to the names of their fathers. but for all
operations of offense and defense they were
H. a
Weas commenced process of improvement, and
their town grew in size and number They
grew arrogant, and the result was the crushing
of the confederacy by General George Rogers
Clark at Kaskaskia and Vincennes.
Ouiatenon was destined TO follow and fall in
its turn Its location was on the south bank of
the Wabash river. about eight miles below the
present city of Lafayette, in the edge of the
famous Wea plain. and is one of the oldest land
marks in the State. The name was given to st
| by the French. in honor of the hearty welcome
| they received from the Weas. The military &C.
| cupation of the post was of short duration, and
from this fact 1t is inferred that the settlement
| of the place by the French was deferred on &C.
count Of the difficulty of restraining the savages
| without military help. In 1890 all the French
| forts il the Northwest, including Ouiatenon. fell
into the hands Of the British and were garrisoned
| by them.
In 1863 Pontiac's conspiracy was ended through
| the treachery of the Indian mistress OF Maio,
| Gladwin, the English commandant at Detroit
| but not until Fort Ouiatenon had fallen among
| the fated nine English forte, by the strategy Of
| Pontiac. The fort at that time was commanded
by Col Edward Jenkins. who surrendered to tht
Indians condition that the lives Of the garri
son be spared. The Indians destroyed the fort
| and set up for themselves the old Wea town. o.
| Ouiatenon. The Indian settlement grew
the metropolis of the Indians of the
Wabash valley, at time having
a population of over FIVE thousand and thu
lodges covered tract of land on the south sid
of the Wabash four miles long and three quar-
tiers of mile wide. The Indians became hostil
in the spring of 1871 and an expedition was sen
to reduce it. under the command of Brig. gen
Chas. Scott and Colonel Wilkinson. The tow
was sacked, and the lodges and fort burned